Miljenko Matijevic (Steelheart)

Miljenko Matijevic is the singer and founding member for the band Steelheart. He also did the singing vocals for Mark Walhberg in the movie Rockstar as part of the band Steel Dragon. That band (which also included Zakk Wylde & Jeff Pilson) may have a reunion of sorts with a very well known drummer replacing Jason Bonham. We discuss all this plus the new single recorded in 10 languages, singing for the Doors, movie projects and more! 

00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Los Angeles & Moving 
02:51 - Getting First Record Deal 
07:45 - Creating Luck & Hard Work 
08:56 - New Album & Name Changes 
12:30 - New Song, Video & Languages 
21:22 - Live Shows with Steelheart & Movie 
23:02 - Steelheart TV, Movies & Other Projects 
25:45 - Steel Dragon Updates 
30:30 - New Store & Steelheart Jacket 
32:43 - Cost of Music & Making Money 
36:04 - Meet & Greets 
37:20 - Singing with The Doors 
39:25 - STP & Velvet Revolver 
41:55 - World Kitchen 
44:00 - Outro 

Steelheart website:
https://steelheart.com

World Kitchen website:
https://wck.org

Chuck Shute website:
http://chuckshute.com

Transcript

Chuck Shute: 0:00

Milenko Mattia vich is here today, stick around he is the singer for Steelheart Steelheart has a new single out called trust and love. It's available in 10 different languages so far more to come. It's going to be part of a whole new album for Steelheart that will include that new song, some other new songs and some rerecord songs. And we're going to talk about how the band was originally signed way back in the day seen with the doors movie projects, a reformed version of the band steel Dragon, which if you remember was the band was Zakk Wylde from movie Rockstar with Mark Wahlberg. All this and much, much more. Stay right there good afternoon or good morning. Could I say my side? Oh, exactly.

Miljenko Matijevic: 0:55

I'm in Los Angeles.

Chuck Shute: 0:57

Okay, so is that if you've been there this whole time since you moved there in the 80s?

Miljenko Matijevic: 1:02

No, no, I've been on and off. I've been here and they've been New York. Virginia. Yeah, here's Connecticut, New York, Virginia.

Chuck Shute: 1:15

So do you prefer one or the other?

Miljenko Matijevic: 1:19

Well, you know, I prefer you know, definitely. I mean, I love these coasts. But I like, you know, the weather here is much better. So, you know, you can stress out over there over here. Motors was stressed out in the sun.

Chuck Shute: 1:33

Yeah, there you go. Arizona, so it's like, we got the sun here. But I know that's probably too hot. For most people. It's cheaper than LA. So that's the

Miljenko Matijevic: 1:42

LA is become it's become silly. It's like not even exciting anymore. Just become music seen as weird. And the, you know, when you get $28 for a hamburger is just like, okay, you know, in some places, it's ridiculous. 20 $22 for drink. You know, it's, it's like, it's ridiculous. That's the only word for you know,

Chuck Shute: 2:07

when you move the first move there and the ad, was it the ad Z? I was like, 88 or something? 89?

Miljenko Matijevic: 2:13

No, we made the first record and 89 here. But we didn't live here. So I didn't live here. Then. Then I went to I moved here, I want to say in 1996 96. And then I came back and then I left. Then I came back again in 99. And then I left. I left in 2004. And then I came back here again in 2000. I want to say 2012.

Chuck Shute: 2:47

Oh, yeah, I thought I read somewhere like you move to LA. Is that just to get the record deal then is that just because you got to deal with within like a month of?

Miljenko Matijevic: 2:56

Yeah, no, that month? It was literally a week of going there. I mean, it was it was insane. Yeah. I don't know. You're recording this. So are we Yeah. No, no, not at school? No, no,

Chuck Shute: 3:08

I just started going and I just wanted to go with it. No, go

Miljenko Matijevic: 3:11

with it go. Absolutely. I know, I went to Los Angeles. After we did a demo. I just said, I'm going to Hollywood to become a star. Literally, as I said to to my family having dinner with him one night and went Friday. I knocked on a bunch of doors. And on Monday, I had a meeting with a producer and fancy manager. Okay. And so I played so Stan, that the manager, he was down at the pool, and I'm playing the music producer. And he's like, wow, that sounds great. You know, maybe we should change this or let's maybe we should fix this. And then listen to it again. He's like, it doesn't need anything. This is great. This is like done. This is amazing. It's finished, you know, played in four songs. It was I believe, I've never let it go Can't stop me loving you. She's gone. And I don't know maybe like never before I think it was and

Chuck Shute: 4:13

how did you even know what doors to knock on? Because this is before the internet and all this like did you just Yeah, was it up on the phone?

Miljenko Matijevic: 4:20

Well, there there was a couple of things. One we had I had a friend out here was a drummer. And he gave me a lead on this producer and there's going to be a manager there staying with him for the weekend. And so I got that lead. But before that I literally I mean, I literally just sent him tapes, knocked on doors. I mean, I remember going to a&m records, right on Hollywood. Knock then it was like, Oh, we don't take any unsolicited tapes. Like what do you mean you don't take any unsolicited tapes? I'm good. Yeah, it was like, I mean, I pushed it as hard as I could and it was hard. You know, it was all always everybody you know, it's too cool for school kind of thing, you know? But, but that day meeting, Stan and meeting forgotten producers named Jesus, I can't I can't remember. But anyway, Stan comes up and he goes, Hey, you should really listen to this. This kid's music. And he goes, you know, you look great. I'm sure you sound great. I just don't have any time or I don't have any more room for another act. I am on full. I can't handle it. And if I hear and I like it, then I'm in trouble. Okay. And so you go, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I just don't want to hear it. I gotta goes. You really should listen to this. You should really listen to this. And he goes, alright, I'll tell you what. Here's my address in New York. My office, send me the tape. I'll have a list. So that was Monday, when I left. I went right to FedEx. And I overnighted it. Okay, so he went to his office Tuesday morning, because he was leaving Monday that night. Okay. He comes in the morning on my audit to get home yet on the answering machine. I could hear. Angela says, I'll never let you go in and halfway through the song. And he's like, Yeah, fucking prick. It's that good. You guys, call me soon as you get this. So I got back on Wednesday. Right? He goes, You got to come in. Let's come in and talk. In New York. I was in Connecticut that went in Thursday. We had a meeting. We had a verbal agreement. So okay, we're gonna work together. Okay. Friday at 5pm Because me you're gonna be signed to universal Have a good weekend, phone hangs up the phone. Wow. After a billion years of rehearsing, running around looking for, it's just I can't even tell you how much time energy we spent, you know,

Chuck Shute: 7:01

wasn't it the band was together for 10 years, it started out called Red Alert. And then but so just took this one trip random trip to LA where you really didn't know anybody. You're just gonna go randomly knock on doors. And that's what did it.

Miljenko Matijevic: 7:13

Yeah, randomly knock on doors. And this one, one random meeting, maybe something, you know, but it just goes to show you, you know, there's a lot of bullshit. But sometimes you gotta go with your gut. You know, if there's something you just don't know. You just don't know where it's, you know, where you're, you know where your luck is, you know, and you do need luck. I'll tell you this straight up. You know, anybody in the music business or entertainment business? It's a lot of hard work. It's a lot of focus, but you need luck. You do need luck.

Chuck Shute: 7:47

But you create more luck by taking more chances. Like if you hadn't gone and knocked on those doors. I mean, you can't just sit back and wait for someone to discover. Yeah, it doesn't usually happen that way. No.

Miljenko Matijevic: 7:57

Now a lot of people a lot. A lot of people are lazy. You can't be lazy. You cannot be late, especially in this business. You got to work you got to I was funny. I was just talking to this other guitar player earlier. And, you know, it takes so much dedication, focus to get up every morning, go work out and go to the studio. Everyone thinks Oh, it's you know, easy. Oh, you're a rock stars. So we you know, you got it made. No one has no fucking idea how much work this is? How much time, dedication, focus, okay. It takes to do to be an artist. And I mean, I myself. I don't even see the day. I'm in the studio. You know, I come out sometimes it's nighttime. It's just, it's not. It's not what everyone thinks, you know. But it's what I do. It's what we do. And we love it. So.

Chuck Shute: 8:54

So are you mostly studio musician, then?

Miljenko Matijevic: 8:57

Oh, no, no. Live in studio. Yeah.

Chuck Shute: 9:02

Right now, you're doing a lot of studio stuff.

Miljenko Matijevic: 9:05

Always. Always. Always. Right now we're finishing up that 30th album. And it's really close to the final stages. We did. I did. She's gone with a 40 piece orchestra and piano Mama don't you cry 40 piece and a piano and vocals. And everybody loves Eileen full band, kind of like a live slash studio vibe. I'll never let you go acoustic guitar vocals and what else? I'm missing something. I don't know. There's more. There's 10 songs altogether. Okay.

Chuck Shute: 9:46

Yeah, no, they're all from the first two albums.

Miljenko Matijevic: 9:50

It's from everything it's for. It's just the songs, the most popular songs there around the world. You know, those are the ones that are on the album and And four of them have been bought, actually, wealth, trust and love is on there too. That's new. And there's another song called in love. That's, that's another new one. So there's basically like, two new ones and four rerecords.

Chuck Shute: 10:16

Okay, so trust and love is the noose, and that is under the Steelheart moniker, right? Get some of your stuff is under just your solo artists, right?

Miljenko Matijevic: 10:25

Yeah, we're done with it. Not that we're done with it. Let me explain. It's like, you know, for years, you know, it's been like, you know, when I came to this country he got I was Mike Michael. Michael Mattia, which, okay, because coming to this country, it's, you know, at that age, it's very, very, it's very different, you know, coming with a 9 million goal or merely is like, especially going to school, you know, so it was Michael, and it was Mike, you got Mikey steel, you got this guy. And as I go, you know, it's it's like, very confusing for a while. So my father passed away. I changed my name back then a birthright name, meaning who I am as where I was born. That's why it really is short for me, young girl. It's like Mikey, Michael, right. And my friends calling me Ellie, the world knows me as media. And Steelheart has been with me my whole life, my whole career. And I've come to realization it's like, well, this is what it is. So everything I do, is still from now on. It's just still hard. Because that's, that's who I am. That's what I mean. I've built it. I've, I can't, what's the word? It's what it is. You know what I mean? And it's a world world known thing. Everybody knows me and go, but they'll know Steelheart more. So it's like, Why? Why confusing? So I want to stop the confusion.

Chuck Shute: 11:58

Okay, now that makes sense. Yeah, cuz I just thought I saw some of it's under your solo stuff. So, uh, you own the Steelheart name. And it's, we have new members now. Right? Because there's no original. You're the only original. I mean, you are still on it, though. You're the voice? Yeah,

Miljenko Matijevic: 12:11

I'm still hard. Yeah. On the writer, producer, writer to producer and make coffee. What else put up his there? Yeah. And I pay for it all. So it's like, you know, everybody wants to just come on in and give me you know, give me a check. And we'll talk. Right.

Chuck Shute: 12:27

Yeah. So I saw the video for the trust, trust and love. I think that's that's the new one. Right? Yeah, it's, it's really elaborate. It's got it's got a guitar song. It's got the piano and then it's got the cool like aerial shots. It's really neat.

Miljenko Matijevic: 12:38

Yeah, I got a new job, the 711. Now that's the same for that one. And

Chuck Shute: 12:47

some musicians have to they have to do some crazy stuff to make ends meet so

Miljenko Matijevic: 12:52

well. No, I'm only kidding. I'm kidding.

Chuck Shute: 12:54

I didn't know. So I figured no, no, no,

Miljenko Matijevic: 12:57

no, no, no, no, no. 711 I mean, come on. I could get a job somewhere else mechanic. Well,

Chuck Shute: 13:02

you could at least just do singing lessons. But that's what I always wonder when I hear the stories of musicians working on houses and things. I'm like, you could do guitar lessons Singing Lesson, whatever your instrument is. I mean, that's like people would pay top dollar to have professional lessons.

Miljenko Matijevic: 13:16

Yeah, I may do a, I was thinking about doing a video or a masterclass for vocals. You know, I think it's, I think a lot of singers would really enjoy it. It's not just about singing, it's all about the preparation as well. You know, it's the mindset. It's the energy, it's your, your, your physical side, it's it is a lot involved, you know, and I know all the singers know what I'm talking about. But anyway, back to the video. The video video was I mean, it was really important because I wrote the song for the world, originally wrote it for the unification of the peninsula, for Korea. Okay, for the North and South. I do a lot of work in Korea. Steelheart has been going there since 1989. And the song she's gone is still the number one karaoke song today. Since 1989. So, this the song is extremely famous. And anyway, I lived there for 2017 a lot of TV shows, dramas, stuff like that. And, and I was watching the news one night and it was just horrific. You know, you got the arguments you got the war doesn't throw another bomb at you and human trafficking. And I was just like, oh, man, I gotta do something. I gotta feel like I need to write something for the unification of people, two people together, you know. And I sat down but a piano and trust and love came out. It just started writing itself. You know? No fight, no effort. No, it was just like something coming through me and you My job was just to follow along and to, you know, capture that channel and, and just to deliver that song. And so when I finished it in English, we translate into Korean and I sang in Korean. And it just seemed like, it was much bigger than just that, you know. So I thought it's like, you know, I could probably just sing it in my language, Croatian, considering the war in my country, they could use a little unification to you know, so when I finish it in Croatian, I was like, wow, shit. You know, Tally Italy is only across the channel by about saying the Italians were saying it Italian. So if I sang the town, I got to sing in Spanish, the Spanish and Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi. I did 10. So I did. And I got I got the three more that are in the works. I got the Swedish Germans French. And but I also want to do I want to do Arabic. So, so I still got those to do and it is we're releasing now the Spanish and the Portuguese. Okay, now, yeah, that's coming out next.

Chuck Shute: 16:12

How are you learning all these languages?

Miljenko Matijevic: 16:15

So what I did is I connected with people or artists around the world, through my publisher, and also for the friends. And like some big bands like, like in Mexico, I've connected with my friend who manages the band agora, and this is me and a singer and got together, we, you know, put it together and translated the lyrics, and then I would sing it. And then I would just get on zoom with them and do the enunciation. And it would take it's a process, you know, like the Chinese. I mean, it's a process, man, you know, I mean, it's Chinese, you know. And Elaine was great. Who said no singer like this, it's, and we would just do it on Zoom and WhatsApp until I got it close. And then when I understood soon as I comprehend the Annunciation, because it's very difficult for people to explain a language, especially during the nuances, you know, they'll, like the Koreans would say to me, say SA, I go SA, na, na, SA, far, like, okay, PSA. No, not PSA. PSA. I go. So, yeah, that's it. I'm, like, back up and say enough for the times we talking about? Yes. Okay. So how do I, so it takes a minute to figure out the latest latest little thing that makes a click, you know, the English language? You know, when you if you got the, you got the Russians, Croatia the top like this, you know, they can't do the cants and the eyes and you know what I mean? So, so it takes,

Chuck Shute: 17:58

yeah, which country is it? Most popular and right now?

Miljenko Matijevic: 18:03

Probably Korea. Korea has been on Korea, the English version is growing. We are still building we're just, we're like only month and a half into it. A promotion. So it's, it's gonna take a minute, you know, unless it just, you know, clicks, but now we got we got a war we got, we got such chaos in the world. That a song like this is almost like, thinner. You want to hear that right now? It's almost like it's going to have to come back later on and go, Okay, you know, what, we need a song like this. So

Chuck Shute: 18:38

yeah. Even in America, there's division, and it's, it's all over the place. So,

Miljenko Matijevic: 18:44

yeah, it's, it's, we have definitely reached challenging times. So

Chuck Shute: 18:50

well, that's great. You're, you're doing a good thing for the world is trying to make music that was the other not. I mean, I like the fun party music too, though. So you know, but it's like, I like I'm sure you get tired of just doing party songs. You want to do more deep meaningful kind of stuff. So

Miljenko Matijevic: 19:08

well, I made it just drove me it's not like, you look, I don't make music to just make music, I make music that comes through me, you know what I mean? And, and that, that was really important. And it was a it was two years in the making. I when when I started it, it was like the pandemic hit hard. You know, and I had the choir setup I had all these things are recorded would have been easy. But then a pandemic and I was like, shit, how am I going to do this? You know? So, what I did is, is that put the chorus, I sang the chorus and the lyrics on my website, and I asked all my fans to send them their vocals sing to the sync to the chorus. I don't care if it's on a phone, I don't care if it's professional, I don't care how you send it, just send it and I'll figure it out and get it in there. And somebody People sent in some guru amazing stuff, some people send in and phone, some in just also video. And I got to close to 350 people. And they're all in the course. And it created a gorgeous course they worked, you know, and the orchestra we did in Paramount, and also in Scopia, which is Macedonia. Right. So via zoom 40 piece orchestra, you know. So

Chuck Shute: 20:29

how will you perform that live? If I mean, you're not going to bring the 40 piece orchestra on the road? I wouldn't

Miljenko Matijevic: 20:34

know you, you got to use samples. I mean, it's, you know, uses samples you play to, we did it in. We did a benefit for Ukraine at the Whisky not long ago. And that was the first time we performed it. We, we had a backing track, but we had the live drums live guitar, live bass, the strings were strings were sampled and some of the keyboards that I created, you know, the Omnisphere stuff, and part of the chorus and then we had other chorus singers. So it works. I mean, you got it. I mean, you're not gonna get 40 piece orchestra here. You know what I mean?

Chuck Shute: 21:12

No, unless your guns and roses

Miljenko Matijevic: 21:15

maybe next week, we'll see Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 21:18

yeah, so are you guys are you guys gonna tour we're still hurting are they is their shows lined up?

Miljenko Matijevic: 21:23

yet? Still ours always touring is always performing. We got shows coming up this July. There's four shows in July. There's two shows three shows in August. And right now one of the shows we are finalizing, for filming of the last scene of a movie. So there's a feature movie being made. And the song trust and love is the theme song of the movie. So ironically, when the director heard the song, we're in a meeting. And he's listening to some of my songs. And so I don't know if it's helicopters loud. And so anyway, we're listening to my songs. And I'm playing them trust and love last when he heard trust and love because we gotta have this this has got to be in the movie. This is perfect. Not only that, we got to call the movie trust and love. And this is perfect. Let's call them building trust and love. So So that's what's happening. Yeah, so August 20. I'm just waiting right now to get a green light to shoot the last scene. And it's a really cool movie. It's about a producer who is at his end who's a famous producer and divorce and all kinds of shit happening in the movie you know, also acting in the movie and and then the song is the theme, you know, the ending everybody gets on stage and you know kind of sings and performs the part of the band and all that kind of thing. So should be excited you you'll be one of the first to know when it's time.

Chuck Shute: 23:01

Okay, yeah, that's really cool. And then are you also doing a TV series BSA what does that

Miljenko Matijevic: 23:07

VSA I don't know what that is?

Chuck Shute: 23:10

It's not on the on your like IMDB. I could be wrong. I thought it was like that.

Miljenko Matijevic: 23:17

Well, I did I did do did do several in Korea. Promise dramas and TV series. And also Yeah, actually, I got to update that IMDb and look behind on that. But I do have in the can I have a whole whole thing that I did of travel and cooking and crazy shit we haven't released there's so much footage I I cannot keep up. Okay, between the album, you know, talking to artwork and things and touring and recording and, you know, editing is it's endless, endless creative. Steelheart. TV. And there's 40 videos up there right now. And we're about to launch that I want to do have one concert cut, and it's half cut now that we shot in Korea, at the penta port festival. 30,000 people 16 cameras sheet shoot, I mean major shoot, and I want to do have that cut and then you know the Steelheart TV is everything. It's all I mean, there's so many videos and backstage and interviews and travel. It's endless. This is

Chuck Shute: 24:35

gonna be like on YouTube that are

Miljenko Matijevic: 24:37

no no no, no, no, no, no, this is my TV station Steelheart TV. Like it's a full on TV show TV station. And and I'm not ready for that but I can literally put it up on Roku and Apple TV and all that but I'm not ready for that. That's we need you know You need something that's consistent, you know, but this is more for to fans. You can watch the videos, you can watch the concerts pay per view, you know, I gotta make some money somehow, you know, and I hope I hope it works. I really do.

Chuck Shute: 25:14

Yeah, no, absolutely. I well sounds like I mean, the movie stuff that helps a lot to write getting songs and music and things like that, and songs and TV and movies and things like that.

Miljenko Matijevic: 25:25

No, absolutely. There's another movie in the works as well, which is not greenlit yet, but it's also really cool. I'm really excited about that one as well. But you know, fingers crossed, you know, I'm

Chuck Shute: 25:38

tell us anything about that one.

Miljenko Matijevic: 25:40

Um, I can tell you it's a pretty big movie, and some real you know, actors are going for, but there's still things that are in the works of I think locking down, you know what I mean? So, you know, you can't talk about stuff until it's locked down. Right, you know, and I have to be respectful to them too. But it is the other movies definitely happening. Okay, that's shooting in August and September and we'll be out next year.

Chuck Shute: 26:10

So with the other one the one that's not locked down yet is that going to be using like an old steel heart song or the speed new steel hurt music

Miljenko Matijevic: 26:17

we're going to we're going to use we all die young we're going to use we all die young we're going to use possibly I'll never let you go what I just recorded the new version acoustic okay and and the end either my love is gone. A song called My love is gone and that I wrote or or it will be trust and love again. I don't know. Whatever they want. What they want you can have you know what I mean? Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 26:45

well, yeah, we all die young. That's such a cool song. That was actually a steal art song from the was from the weight outwardly. Yeah, yeah. They used it in the rock star movie. Now I heard some rumors that you were going to actually do some live shows with steel dragon with like Zakk Wylde and Jeff pilson and Jason Bonham

Miljenko Matijevic: 27:03

Yeah, well, not with Jason. What happened in 2019, I put together a concert in Pompano Beach, Florida. And I connected with this friend of mine was a promoter out there. And we had it set. We had the date set. Everything was in place. Everybody was on board. It was me Zakk Wylde, Matt Sorum. And Jeff. And it was it was ready to go. And then pandemic hit. Bomb kind of just went that. So we tried to move it to the summer. They got cut, try to move it to the winter, it got cut, try to move it next year, they got cut. So now it's like trying to resurrect it again. But and I'm actually waiting on an offer. And if it comes together, then then I gotta call the boys see if they're available. And if they want to do it, so that you know what I mean.

Chuck Shute: 27:58

So it's just wouldn't be like a tour? Well, I

Miljenko Matijevic: 28:02

would love it. I think, you know, we just don't know where it's gonna go. I don't know if people will be excited about that. Or it'll be like, it's done. I'd be excited. I'd see. I think I think is exciting. Personally, you know,

Chuck Shute: 28:17

your van and they're great songs. And you said there's some songs that only three or four are actually in the movie, but there's seven that you've already recorded, right?

Miljenko Matijevic: 28:24

Yeah, yeah, there's other songs that you guys haven't heard that are every time you know, Mark's singing in the movie. Singing it's my vocals. I like but you hear just part of it like weird wasted generation or some reckless you know it it comes into the back into the studio and it goes well how does it go? Oh, there's a hunk abandoned way down deep muscle. I'm on a road I'm on fire. You know, that part? Is the name of my game and just the runaway train like I don't I forgot the words. But anyway, so like that song. It's a great song that no one's heard it. So these are these are the songs we will do all of those. So do all of those. And I would say we probably do some you know, Zach, maybe some? I don't know. Maybe a doc and song and maybe a Guns and Roses song. Maybe a Black Sabbath song, you know? Or Ozzy song. You don't I mean, anything. You know what I mean? kind of create those amazing

Chuck Shute: 29:19

I'm in a sign me up. That's one show. I guess I gotta fly to Florida or something?

Miljenko Matijevic: 29:25

Well, I yeah, I think my vision of it is let's Let's book one show and see where it goes. I think it should be. I think it should be 10

Chuck Shute: 29:37

feet beyond the tour date, I think I think it should be it's a great location. Come here the winter. It's beautiful. Right?

Miljenko Matijevic: 29:44

I mean, let's see what happens and see what life has in store. You know, we can only present and the rest is to the universe and you know, everybody else you know. So yeah, we shall say.

Chuck Shute: 29:55

Yeah. And in the meantime though, when you do steal it when you tour Steelheart you do Some of those songs from the movie, right?

Miljenko Matijevic: 30:02

Yeah, we do. We definitely do. We all die young. We do blood pollution we do live in life that probably would stand up back in a set, you know? And we'll see. Yeah, it's all exciting. It's just, you know, enjoying life and making music and, and doing what we do. Yeah.

Chuck Shute: 30:24

Yeah, no, I love it. Gosh, what other projects that anything else? Like you're so busy. Anything else but

Miljenko Matijevic: 30:32

it's it's endless. I mean, yeah, there is other projects other probably I mean I have something else that's cooking and I don't want to talk about it until I get closer. But it's it's something that I hope it will take off. You know, I got a new mo we got a new store and it's going to be opening Steelheart store. Okay, the one that's up now is just so old and dated. But the new one is so sleek. It's it's very today, and I got I'm getting into a bunch of different things. Because I love clothes. We got a Steelheart jacket that we made. I don't know if you saw that. My original replica, we replicated that one. That's like the bling. If you want it Yeah, with the studs, you know, the whole thing. It looks amazing. It's done. Absolutely fantastic.

Chuck Shute: 31:26

How much? It's gonna be expensive because that things like not, I mean, it's elaborate,

Miljenko Matijevic: 31:31

is 1000 bucks. And that's actually cheap. But I wanted to I want to do, I'm not making a lot of money on it. But I wanted to make sure that people are able to, you know, get it. I can't sell it less than that. Because it's just like, it's ridiculous. You know, it's elaborate.

Chuck Shute: 31:47

It's like, yeah, how do they even make that if somebody can make it? Or is it? Yeah, yeah. Oh, wow.

Miljenko Matijevic: 31:53

It's all handmade hand done. Put together. You know, the studs in there. The jackets handmade. I mean, it's legit. And the leather is amazing. And we just finished, I just got the first photos are the new prototype of a new jacket. I'm doing like a moto jacket. So it's like a you know, it's like a funky triumph kind of vibe. Just sleek and James Dean kind of thing, you know, with a with a Steelheart says I am free Steelheart logo pressed through the back of it. Really cool. That sounds doing that? Yeah, I mean, um, I, you know, I'm just, it's like, I'm just trying different things. I love all of that stuff. And not only that is, you know, it's like, music really doesn't sell music anymore. You know, music, everyone's stealing our music. It's kind of sad. I have to say it. It really is. Because what, what it takes to create music, and what it costs to make music. And then people just feel like it's okay to just download it for free. And then you know, and you got YouTube and you got Spotify and Pandora, they're all making the cash. And sadly, you know, the artists are going lower and lower and lower. And how do you keep up? How do you keep creating music? How do you sustain? You know, and, and that's one message I'd like to give to the fans. You know, I love you all. But I mean, to all the artists that you really love and as that has helped you through your times of trouble or times of happiness or party, whatever you have, you know, when they do come up with something new, buy the record for 99 cents, it's 99 cents, you know what I mean? Just give it the respect. You know, and it does help? I promise you, you know, it does help. Otherwise. You know, where do you go? You got 70,000 70,000 songs uploaded a day to Spotify. That's That's ludicrous. It's ludicrous. So that

Chuck Shute: 34:10

you guys are getting less money and not it seems like they should be paying you guys more like

Miljenko Matijevic: 34:15

nah, nah, it's brutal. It's terrible. I'm telling you straight up. Don't let anybody tell you different.

Chuck Shute: 34:21

Yeah, no, I know. That's what everyone says. Everyone says it's brutal. But I'm like, I was hoping that it would start to get better, like maybe Spotify, which I mean, even if Spotify charges people more to have the you know, no commercials or whatever. I feel like people would pay I mean, it's like what like 10 bucks a month for Spotify or something. But if they charged 15 I mean, that would make that could make a huge difference to artists.

Miljenko Matijevic: 34:42

Yeah, I it and then you know, but it all goes different though. That's the other part. The other part is like if you're in a pool, you know you're in a pool. So if Metallica is getting all the plays, all the guys that are you know, the guys that are getting a million plays a month are getting much Much less money where the other bands are hogging all of it, you know, and you got Beyonce and, or Coldplay. So it's, it's very, it's not proportionately done correctly. And that's where it gets to be confusing. You know? Yeah. So I, again, I was strong. So if you're listening to that, but if a song comes out, download that thing for 99 cents. And even then the artist doesn't get 99 cents, because the distributor takes 30% or 40%. So, you know, Apple takes what is it? 30%, something like that. And then it wherever your distributor is, whether it's whether it's TuneCore, or professional, Sony or the orchard, they're taking another percentage. So by the time the artist gets paid, he gets like maybe 40 cents.

Chuck Shute: 35:53

Yeah, now can relate to by reality, they need to buy merch, T shirts, and also the T shirts and stuff like that, that advertises your band as well. But I think the movies and TV thing, what about meet and greets? Do you do do that? And that's not only a lot of bands have made money?

Miljenko Matijevic: 36:09

Yeah, we do a lot of meet and greets. We really welcome everybody, we really take care of everyone. Really nicely. We give them shirts, we do. There's different tiers of it. And we do. What do you call it? With the photos? I mean, we do a we do we really take care of our fans. And not only that we also take care of to the first responders, they the first five tickets are free. If you want to come to my show, just just email, I forgot what is the contact, that's the heart.com and say, Hey, I'm a first responder. I'm coming with my wife for whatever it is. Here's my ID, I'm a fireman. I'm a police man. I'm a doctor. We got you. We got

Chuck Shute: 36:59

Wow, that's very cool. Absolutely,

Miljenko Matijevic: 37:03

you know, put out a serious amount of energy time and, you know, their love to help people in this world, especially there's during this pandemic, you know?

Chuck Shute: 37:15

Well, all the projects that you have going on right now, but what about the other projects that you've done in the past? Because you've done some cool stuff like you sang with the doors, and you almost were a member of both Velvet Revolver and STP. Is that Is that correct?

Miljenko Matijevic: 37:28

Yeah. That's correct. I mean, that it's the doors was That was that was an amazing journey. You know, we do two major tours, one in United States and one in Europe. And before Ray passed away, yeah, and I mean, I, I transcended the late Jim Morrison, you know, my connection with the Spirit. The band was fantastic. Our performances were amazing. I've had unbelievable moments on stage. Whether I'm making it up in my head or something really speaking to me or somebody guiding me through it, but I definitely experienced that several times. And it was a wrote a couple of songs with a few songs with Robbie, you know, and that was, that was a that was a beautiful thing. That was

Chuck Shute: 38:32

your favorite door songs. Because for me it's Roadhouse blues, I love that sounds so much.

Miljenko Matijevic: 38:36

I love Roadhouse blues I every time when when I see Rob, if I jump on stage, I'll be wrong hospitals. I love that song. You're absolutely right. He always wants to make a he always wants me to sing. Let my fire because I'm the only one that actually could actually hit the last note. You know, the fight? Yeah. Right. So what a full voice. But yeah, I mean, it's strange, strange days. I loved also performing. You know? And, and I have a lot of like backstage little videos that I've haven't released. And I'm going to start putting that out there. See, you know, for the fans, I'm sure they would like to see some of this stuff. It's not very, not the best quality but it's something. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 39:24

no, that's really cool. Was there any other projects that almost happened like the STP and the Velvet Revolver, like things you tried out for things you turned down?

Miljenko Matijevic: 39:34

There was a couple of things that did turn down which we don't need to mention anything good. I think the band was amazing, because just the timing wasn't right. Yeah, I mean, a couple of things I wanted to do. As far as the STP thing that was that was different. It was just, I don't think the band ever got the music. The managers did and it was amazing. It was like, oh, no, let's Let, let let Jamie send it to you. Yeah, I didn't send

Chuck Shute: 40:08

because you recorded three songs.

Miljenko Matijevic: 40:10

I did three songs, the revival we did like four or five songs. But as funny as Scott is in, you know, in that whole energy space is kind of weird, you know,

Chuck Shute: 40:21

very different singing styles. Like, I feel like it'd be taken out the Corvette and not like hitting 100 with like, because I don't think STP has a lot of like, high like screaming, or unless you would have added that.

Miljenko Matijevic: 40:33

No, no, no, no, I added what I added just just a little bit, you know, little to it, you know, but no, no, you wouldn't want to go screaming, God no, sound like an idiot. There were no songs. Not it doesn't fit. Right saying to what's needed. You know what I mean? And especially when you're, it's like, when I want to join the doors. It's like, you know, you got it's about transcending the energy not copying. I don't want to copy. Jim, you know, my, my job was to connect with spirit, and transcend energy through me, you know, another, and just the nuances and the little things be the trigger triggered a listener the Whoa, holy shit. I mean, so many people will say that to me, because you just freak me out, you know, because you've connected. And that's the same thing with STP or bell roll any any band that has been previously famous and you jumping in you can't copy it. You got to just and just got to do your version of it. You know?

Chuck Shute: 41:43

Yeah. No, that's cool. Well, I look forward to all this stuff that the steel dragon thing, especially that that would be I'm really excited if that happens. Even one show I would I might fly up wherever that my down. So very cool. Well, I always end each episode with a charity. Is there? Is there a charity that you're connected with? Or that I know that obviously you do in the song to try to reserve money that people can donate somewhere?

Miljenko Matijevic: 42:06

Yeah, we what we what we did is the the recent one is stood a kitchen. What's it called? A world kitchen. Okay. Yeah, we've been using it. I really do like them. I mean, they're really, they're really put a lot of time energy and love into what they're doing. So that is definitely one that I would say. Yeah, donate. You know, I mean, Ukraine could really use I'm just, I'm just lost for words. When I talk about the war. I'm just lost. It's just the energy of intelligence is just awful. There is just such a low vibration, you know? And yeah, it said, so yeah, no,

Chuck Shute: 42:50

well, that's great. Because I think I had Chuck right on it. Was that the same you said you did a benefit thing of the whiskey. Was that the same one? Yeah.

Miljenko Matijevic: 42:57

Yeah, the chalk and yeah, and Jesse and yeah, yeah, we all did that. Yeah. We gave away. I gotta, I made a bunch of trust and love T shirts we we get and we kind of sold also for the Ukraine thing. I donated a Steelheart jacket. One of the jackets we raffled off as well. So yeah, so it was it was a it was a night, it was a beautiful night. It was a good, good energy.

Chuck Shute: 43:22

That's really cool. Well, yeah, I mean, that's, that's all we can do is if we can send some people can send a few bucks for that. It sends a meals, everybody needs food. So that's definitely one way we can help for sure. So

Miljenko Matijevic: 43:33

again, even you know, with anybody what I'm saying, even, you know, even $1 You know, goes goes a long way. Because everybody

Chuck Shute: 43:43

gave one. Yeah. If all my listeners gave $1 That's like 10 bucks or something. So all right. All right. Well, thank you so much. It's been fun. I'll put all the links in the show notes and hope to see you on tour.

Miljenko Matijevic: 43:56

My pleasure. All right. Take care.

Chuck Shute: 43:59

Okay, well, there you have it. Lots of great stuff for me, Lee and Steelheart check out the website in the show notes for more information, tour dates, merch and all that good stuff. I just checked the jacket. It's it is there. It's like 1000 bucks, but it is cool. It's like totally studded. It's legit. So very cool. He got the money, that'd be cool thing to get. And he told you how to buy or how to support the band by buying the merch and buying the music. So you can also go to shows do the meet and greets, show their stuff on social media, all those great things that you'll do to support music if you're a fan. And if you want to support my little show here. I don't sell anything. Currently, it's all free. So just listening and promoting the show and social media helps me a lot. Some of you do that consistently or even occasionally, and I'm eternally grateful. So check out some of the older episodes if you haven't already. I have a whole playlist on YouTube of 80s rock musicians that I've had on the show. And if you want to go that extra mile, you can always write me a review on Apple podcast. US I'd really appreciate that. Thank you so much for your support of my show and the guests. We all appreciate it and have a great rest of your day and remember to shoot for the moon.